The expectations are that nationalists and sovereignists will deliver in their strongest performance since the EU was established, and their parliamentary group — Europe of Nations and Freedom — could become the third-largest bloc in the European Parliament
At Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini’s invitation, nationalist parties gathered in Milan this weekend, before tens of thousands of voters in front of Duomo Cathedral in Milan.
“In this piazza, there are no extremists. There are no racists. There are no fascists. … In Italy and in Europe, the difference is between … those who speak of the future instead of making trials of the past,” Salvini told the crowd.
The European establishment have been trying to smear sovereignist parties while failing to recognize its own indispensable role in generating mass defections.
The packed and rain-soaked event was hosted by Salvini and Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally (RN) campaigning for their Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) group to become the third largest party in Brussels.
“In the past, Italian politicians used to go abroad asking for lessons on how to change Europe,” Salvini said. “Today Europe’s change happens through Milan and Italy.” His Leagueparty is expected to emerge as Italy’s largest party for the first time next week.
Anti-immigrant leaders from 11 European Union countries presented a common front in their battle against the globalists. Euronews asked Marine Le Pen if felt confident about unity.
“We hope so,” said Le Pen, “some within the movement are waiting for the elections for their own reasons to decide which group they will want to join, so I think the number of countries we have today is not definitive. There will be other chances to evolve and probably to become bigger after the elections.”
The ENF also includes Austria’s Freedom Party, Belgium’s Vlaams Belang and the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom, whose leader Geert Wilders was present in Milan.
Salvini said on Thursday that he will demand a two-tier “flat tax” on income if, as expected, his League party is the Italian group to do best in Sunday’s European elections. “I’m asking for people to vote for us to change Europe,” Salvini told Radio Anch’io.
“I’m not asking for even half a position any longer (for League members). If the League is the top party in Italy and in Europe too, the flat tax will certainly be a priority”.
Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi told a ANSA Forum that this week’s European elections could create a sort of constituent assembly for a new EU in which immigration should be the top priority.
“I think it is absolutely necessary to take part in this vote because a new constituent period for the Europe of the future could depend on it,” he said. “In my opinion, Europe must address five priorities after the election.
“Inevitably the first must regard immigration, because the flows of migrants are historic and I say that as an Italian, a European and a citizen of the world. “This must be addressed with solidarity and shared responsibility by the EU, for the EU, with the EU. “This means investing more in the countries of origin.
“But naturally it is necessary to allocate funds, which at the moment are totally insufficient”.